Ryanair has proposed handing a dowry of €100 million to Flybe Group if the British airline is willing to take on dozens of commercially sensitive air routes out of Ireland.

The Irish budget airline is trying to persuade competition authorities to let it buy Aer Lingus for €694 million — a move that, according to critics, would give it overwhelming dominance at Dublin airport.

Under a package of concessions lodged with the European Commission, Ryanair has offered to hand 43 routes to Flybe in order to create a viable competitor.

Since many of these routes are not particularly lucrative, Ryanair says